[2] The Netherlands was no exception to this trend, however, following the rise to power of Nazism in neighbouring Germany, several Dutch officers and politicians recognised that military modernisation was increasingly necessary, particularly in the field of aviation.

One requirement identified during 1937 by the Royal Netherlands Navy was for a new floatplane for coastal defense and aerial reconnaissance operations, which could be alternatively armed with either bombs or air-dropped torpedoes.

[2] The choice to specify a torpedo armament was unusual for the time as, throughout the interwar period, such weapons had been considered to be extravagant and unaffordable, despite interest in using such munitions being held by some officers.

[2] It demanded that the prospective aircraft possess both a top speed of at least 175 MPH and considerable endurance, both factors making long-distance reconnaissance flights over the North Sea possible.

Despite some initial issues, the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service was largely satisfied with the type's performance and a follow-on order for a larger batch of 26 aircraft was received.

[4] It was intended for the older Fokker T.IV aircraft to be entirely withdrawn in favour of the T.VIIIs from this second batch, including those stationed in the Dutch East Indies, but such plans were disrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.

[5] In spring 1940, the first example of the improved T.VIII W/M model was completed; at this point in time, aircraft were being delivered from Fokker's production line so hastily that the paint had not yet dried; the Dutch military were still receiving T.VIIIs during the opening days of the Battle of the Netherlands.

[4] The nose section, which housed the aircraft's observer, featured several large plexiglass windows for external visibility and a bomb-aiming panel in the floor in front of him.

[7] The unit performed numerous convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols, aiming to detect and attack Germany raiding forces.

[8] Eventually, a lack of spares meant that these aircraft become unserviceable and were retired; their Dutch crews were transferred to newly-procured Lockheed Hudson light bombers.

At dawn they managed to take off (Steen, a fighter pilot, had never flown the type before) and flew to England, evading British anti-aircraft fire, and landing at Broadstairs, Kent.